A Twist of Fate Read Online Free Page B

… umm …’ I pointed vaguely behind some trees. I needed the loo. I must have done that involuntary lean to the side that gave it away.
    Paul chuckled. ‘Find yourself a spot behind a tree and dig a little hole. Cover it in sand. Easy. Happens to us all, you know.’
    â€˜Right … I … yes.’ I padded off, my face flushed, his gorgeous smirk bright in my mind.
    When I returned he had moved back to the fire and sat with a stick, looking into the flames. His skin glowed golden and his eyes shone.
    â€˜Good night then,’ I called.
    He turned to look. ‘G’night, Callie Frobisher.’
    I headed to the shelter but then remembered myself and glanced back over my shoulder.
    â€˜And thank you,’ I said.
    â€˜For what?’
    â€˜Saving my life.’
    He gave me a soft smile then looked back to the fire.

Three
    Surprisingly, I did sleep. My entire body seemed to sink through the earth. But it was a chaotic, confused sleep, filled with nightmares. I was drowning but it was in a bottle of gin. I was flying, then falling, then up again. Faces from the plane raced through my dreams. The calm-voiced pilot, the woman sitting beside me, her hands grabbing me and not able to hold on, the panicked cabin crew. I woke screaming, unstoppably and desperately.
    â€˜Shhh, shhh, it’s all right, it’s all right, you’re safe.’
    That voice again. If I could cling to that voice alone, I’d be safe.
    Paul was kneeling beside me, his hand on my arm. I put out a hand of my own and gripped onto him. I could barely get a hold, his arm was so large and solid.
    I took slow breaths to steady myself. ‘Sorry, sorry. Bad dream.’
    â€˜Yeah … me too.’
    I glanced up at him. He was so controlled, so calm, but he had been through the same. I managed a faint smile. He returned it. ‘You OK?’
    I nodded. ‘Thank you.’
    â€˜I found some limp bacon and managed to fry it up over the fire. Come and have some. It’ll do you good. There’s a stream over there too. Fresh water. And look what I found …’ He tossed an airline freebie toothbrush and toothpaste at me.
    I caught them and grinned appreciatively. ‘I’ll go and wash.’
    As I approached the stream, something dug into me through my jeans pocket. I reached in, took it out, and smirked at my discovery; my packet of contraceptive pills, intact and almost full. They’d survived a plane crash and a near-drowning. I’d barely had need for them recently, but by force of habit, I popped the next one out and swallowed it.
    After splashing in the cooling water gratefully and giving my teeth a thorough clean, I headed back to the fire. Paul handed me some bacon on one of those little airplane trays. ‘Thanks.’ It tasted remarkably good.
    â€˜Orange juice?’
    I laughed and took the small carton. ‘You’ve thought of everything.’
    â€˜Only the best, madaarm ,’ he exaggerated, giving a mock bow.
    We sat and ate contentedly for a while. With him, I could forget the trauma.
    â€˜Have you got anyone else worrying about you at home?’ I said, regretting it immediately, but unable to stop.
    He glanced at me curiously. ‘You mean like a wife? Girlfriend?’
    I nodded, not looking at him, trying to appear as casual as I could.
    He shook his head. ‘Nope.’
    I was stupidly relieved but hoped I hadn’t annoyed him by asking. His answer had been very brief. But he seemed relaxed enough and soon followed up my query. ‘How about you? Boyfriend?’
    I smiled to myself. ‘No and yes.’
    â€˜No and yes?’
    â€˜Well, it’s complicated. We’re not together at this precise moment, but I sort of promised to go back to him when I got back to England.’
    â€˜What the hell does that mean?’ he frowned.
    â€˜We split up a year ago after four years together.’
    â€˜Why?’
    I tutted.